Hearing care for children
Why should my child’s hearing be checked?
Early detection of poor hearing is particularly important in children.
Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital diseases. It hinders your child’s speech and behavioral development. The success of treatment depends on early detection, if possible in the first month of life, and appropriate treatment. In one in four cases, severe congenital hearing loss is not recognized before the age of 3. The first opportunity for an examination is in the clinic shortly after the birth. If your child’s hearing is not tested at this time, it is advisable to have an examination within the first month of life. If hearing loss is detected, treatment should begin between the 3rd and 6th month of life.
How will my child’s hearing be checked?
Two methods are used to examine your child. When measuring otoacoustic emissions, a small loudspeaker probe is inserted into the ear canal. It enables the functionality of the ear to be measured. If sounds are sent through the capsule, the healthy ear perceives them and emits a sound as a secondary phenomenon, so to speak. This sound can be measured with modern microphones. If no sound is emitted from the ear, this may indicate hearing loss. The measurement of brainstem potentials is much more complex. Headphones are placed on both ears. Electrodes are also placed on the head and ears. Sounds are sent through the headphones and the electrodes measure how the brain reacts to them. If one of the two tests indicates a hearing loss, further measures should be taken immediately to enable your child to hear as well as possible.
How can hearing loss become noticeable?
Hearing loss does not have to start immediately after birth. Even if your child was examined after birth, you should look out for the following signs of possible hearing loss: No response to loud, unexpected noises; Loud noises do not disturb sleep; Your child does not turn their head towards sources of noise; No response to instructions; Below average speech development and loud pronunciation. If your child has one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, you should talk to your family doctor about it.
What happens if my child suffers from hearing loss?
Hearing loss in children can be chronic or temporary. It is important to consult a specialist. He can rule out other causes of hearing loss, such as a middle ear infection, earwax blockage or genetic hearing loss. If chronic hearing loss is detected, modern hearing aid technology can help your child to perceive sounds and noises better. If a hearing aid does not achieve an improvement, a cochlear implant is considered. This bypasses the damaged parts of the auditory system and stimulates the auditory nerve directly. Children can hear louder and clearer. Early action prevents below-average language development. Lip reading can also be very useful, regardless of an implant or hearing aid.
Frequently asked questions
Here we answer the most frequently asked questions